From Burnout to Balance: Pacing Your Business as a Neurodivergent Freelancer with Celie Nigoumi

Photographer and creative facilitator Celie Nigoumi shares her journey from severe burnout and chronic health challenges after university to building a thriving freelance business that works for her in a way normal employment and fluorescent offices never could. 

Celie talks about navigating neurodivergence, merging multiple niches into a single authentic personal brand, and using boundary-setting tools like quarterly planning and bi-weekly 'buffer' days to safeguard her well-being. 

We also get deep into pricing/packages her freelance business, and her About page messaging that spills across her website steeped in her core values - this helps her attract ideal clients while turning away the wrong fit.

Topics Covered include:

• Transitioning from in-house corporate photography to full-time freelancing
• Managing ADHD, chronic fatigue/ME, and burnout in a self-employed career
• Merging wedding and personal branding photography into one personal brand
• Using Instagram, story-led email newsletters, and SEO to generate client leads
• Establishing clear core values on your website to attract the right clients
• Hosting community photo walks and collaborating with purpose-led organisations
• Structuring personal branding packages and conducting discovery calls
• Using support tools like Toggl and the UK Government's Access to Work scheme
• Implementing bi-weekly buffer days, quarterly planning, and extended time off
• How a mentor and community have helped focus her and encourage her forward

You can find Celie's website at celienigoumi.com

More details on the UK Government's Access to Work scheme: get support if you have a disability or health condition.

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Being Freelance is hosted and created by freelance podcast editor Steve Folland.